Arson suspected in Venice fire

Monday

Jul 30, 2007 at 8:43 AM

A 20-acre brush fire was sparked in the same area where an arsonist had been active several years ago.

((lauren)) FIRE OFFICIALS TODAY ARE INVESTIGATING A BRUSH FIRE THIS WEEKEND THAT BURNED ABOUT 20 ACRES IN THE VENICE AREA. ((VO)) OFFICIALS SUSPECT ARSON IN THE FIRE NEAR NORTH RIVER ROAD ON SATURDAY. FIRE CREWS ARRIVED ON SCENE AROUND SEVEN P-M. A DIVISION OF FORESTRY TRACTOR WAS PRESSED INTO SERVICE TO BUILD A LINE AROUND THE FIRE. ALTHOUGH STATE FORESTRY OFFICIALS SUSPECT SOMEONE MAY HAVE SET THE FIRE ON PURPOSE, THE OFFICIAL CAUSE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. SATURDAY'S FIRE WAS SPARKED IN THE SAME AREA WHERE AN ARSONIST HAD BEEN ACTIVE SEVERAL YEARS AGO ... (SNN) STAY WITH SNN NEWS SIX AND THE HERALD-TRIBUNE FOR UPDATES ON THIS STORY.